Windlass Mistakes That Damage Your Boat and How to Avoid Them

Ready to master anchoring check out the NauticEd anchoring course - https://www.nauticed.org/sailing-courses/view/anchoring-a-sailboat?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=0tFx8l8Ymt4 Check out IMTRA for all your windlass needs (they are experts) - https://www.imtra.com --- Imtra breaks down the two most damaging windlass mistakes boaters / sailors make, why they happen, and exactly how to avoid them on any vessel. What this video covers: - Why the windlass is not a cleat and what to use instead - How wave action sends repeated shock loads back through the windlass while you are at anchor - Using a snubber or rope-chain rode to transfer load to your deck cleat, mooring bitt, or horn cleat - What happens to the main shaft in extreme storm conditions if you skip this step - Why you must run the ship's engine before operating the windlass - How low voltage caused by depleted batteries damages solenoid strike plates - causing arcing, burning, and the clicking sound that means your windlass will not engage - The correct technique: engine on, alternator charging, motor up into the wind rather than dragging the boat by the windlass The windlass exists to raise and lower the anchor. The deck hardware exists to hold the boat at anchor. Understanding this distinction is the foundation of proper windlass operation. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Mistake One: Using Windlass as a Cleat 00:22 - Shock Loads and What They Do to the Windlass 00:38 - How to Transfer Load Using a Snubber or Rope-Chain Rode 00:55 - The Risk: Bent Shafts and Costly Repairs 01:24 - Mistake Two: Not Running the Engine Before Operating 01:52 - How Low Voltage Destroys Solenoid Strike Plates 02:28 - The Correct Windlass Technique #sailinggear #sailing #boating #boatinggear